ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE WITH WALKING MEMBERS

VEHICULE TOUT-TERRAIN A MEMBRES MARCHANTS

English Abstract

The invention relates to an all-terrain vehicle with walking members, a
vehicle frame (2),
a drive assembly (9), and an axle structure with wheels or tracked running
gear, the
vehicle frame (2) consisting of two pipes which are arranged parallel to one
another,
which can telescope roughly parallel to the subsoil and which are each
composed of a
fixed pipe (5) and a movable pipe (3), and on the free end of the movable
pipes (3) there
being one support element (4) each which is supported in the plane of the
lengthwise axis
of the telescoping pipe to be able to pivot around a bearing point (10).

French Abstract

La présente invention concerne un véhicule tout-terrain comprenant des membres marchants, un châssis de véhicule (2), un module d'entraînement (9) et une construction d'essieu à deux roues ou mécanismes de roulement à chaîne. Le châssis du véhicule (2) est principalement constitué de deux tubes parallèles, qui peuvent se télescoper de manière approximativement parallèle au sous-sol et qui sont respectivement formés d'un tube fixe (5) et d'un tube mobile (3). Un élément de support (4) respectivement monté à l'extrémité libre du tube mobile (3) repose rotatif autour d'un point de support (10) dans le plan de l'axe longitudinal du tube télescopique.

Claims

Claims:
1. An all-terrain vehicle comprising:
a drive assembly;
an axle structure with wheels or tracked running gear;
a vehicle frame, said vehicle frame consisting essentially of:
two pipes, wherein each of said pipes is composed of a fixed pipe and
movable pipe, wherein said pipes can be telescoped roughly parallel to the
subsoil, and which
pipes are arranged parallel to one another and form walking members, and
one support element on the free end of each movable pipe;
wherein the movable pipes can be extended and retracted mechanically or
hydraulically in alternation or at the same time in the fixed pipes, and
wherein the support elements are supported in the plane of the lengthwise axis
of the
telescoping pipe to be able to pivot around a bearing point.
2. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support elements can be
raised or
lowered or enabled by means of hydraulic cylinders.
3. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein support plates which engage
the
subsoil are mounted on the support elements.
4. The vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein on at least one
support
element a free-running and lockable or driven wheel or a track is mounted
which can
optionally be steered.
5. The vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pertinent
support
element can be raised during retraction of the movable pipe or can be pulled
behind over the
subsoil.
6. The vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the retraction
speed of
the movable pipes is greater than their extension speed.
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7. The vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the axle
structure has
wheels or tracks in the area of the free end of the fixed pipes.
8. The vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the axle
structure is
movably connected to the fixed pipes.
9. The vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the axle
structure has a
steerable axle.
10. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the axle is freely running.
11. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the axle is driven.
12. The vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the angular speed of the
wheels or
the drive speed of the tracks and the walking speed of the walking elements,
said walking
elements comprising the movable pipes and the support elements, can be matched
to one
another by means of connectable control electronics.
13. The vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein a constant speed of
progression can
be achieved by means of the control electronics during walking.
14. The vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a
superstructure is
located articulated in the area of the free end of the fixed pipes.
15. The vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein there is a driver's cab on the
superstructure.
16. The vehicle as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein there is a crane jib on
the
superstructure.
17. The vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein a harvester head, a drag, or
other
devices can be mounted on the crane jib.
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18. The vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein a handling
platform
or auxiliary devices are attached to the vehicle frame.
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Description

CA 02524875 2005-11-07
All-terrain vehicle with walking members
The invention relates to a vehicle with a vehicle frame, a drive assembly, an
axle
structure with wheels or tracked running gear and with pipes which can
telescope roughly
parallel to the subsoil and which are each composed of a fixed pipe and a
movable pipe,
on the free end of the movable pipes there being one support element each.
AT 292581 discloses a generic excavator which stands on the ground on the one
hand by way of wheels and on the other by way of support feet. The support
feet can be
telescopically lengthened and shortened by hand.
US 3,335,809 A discloses a vehicle for earth-moving operations which stands on
the ground by way of four wheels. Two vehicle frame parts on which the wheels
and
wheel axles are located are connected to one another by way of a hydraulically
driven
middle part which can be telescopically lengthened. Furthermore, support
elements are
assigned to the wheels and can be pivotally supported on the respective
vehicle part.
These and other known walking vehicles have the disadvantage that due to the
arrangement of the walking members and the pertinent hydraulic elements the
vehicle
cannot easily progress with a constant speed and thus another vehicle is
necessary for
transport, for example for more rapid advance of the vehicle, for example for
transfer at
the job site in rough terrain. By the arrangement of several hydraulic
cylinders the
walking members can be alternately raised, lowered and moved, but the operator
must
operate very many actuation elements in order to achieve only a slight advance
motion of
the vehicle.
Thus the object of the invention is to eliminate this defect and to propose an
all-
terrain vehicle of the indicated type which is also suitable for uniform
progress in the
range from for example 0 to 5 km/h. A higher speed should also be reached on
road-like
subsoil.
The object is achieved in a generic vehicle in that the vehicle frame consists
essentially of two pipes which can be telescoped roughly parallel to the
subsoil and which
are arranged parallel to one another and form walking members, that the
movable pipes
can be extended and retracted mechanically or hydraulically in alternation or
at the same
time in the fixed pipes, and that the support elements are supported in the
plane of the
lengthwise axis of the telescoping pipe to be able to pivot around a bearing
point.
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By providing pipes which can be telescoped parallel to the subsoil, it is
possible to
achieve an advance motion over a larger displacement path. When one pipe is
extended
and the other pipe is retracted in alternation, retraction should take place
with a higher
speed than extension. When the pipe is retracted, the support element is
lowered, at the
same time anchored by way of a support plate or a wheel in the subsoil, and
the pipe is
extended again. There is thus always three-point support of the vehicle during
progressive
movement.
For uniform progression on subsoil which is not too steep, for example a
roadway,
it can also be provided that on at least one support element a free-running
and lockable or
driven wheel or a track is mounted which can optionally be steered.
The vehicle is driven in this case by means of a drive and steerable axle.
The axle structure can have wheels or tracks in the area of the free end of
the fixed
pipes, within the framework of the invention.
An axle structure which is located articulated on the fixed pipes offers the
advantage that the vehicle can also be positioned roughly horizontally even on
slopes
transversely to the existing incline of the slope.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the
angular
speed of the wheels or the drive speed of the tracks and the walking speed of
the walking
elements, i.e. the movable pipes and support elements, can be matched to one
another by
means of connectable control electronics.
With connectable control electronics it is possible to match the motion of the
walking members to the angular velocity of the driven axle such that uniform
forward
motion can be achieved without burdening the vehicle driver with the handling
of several
actuating elements. The vehicle can thus achieve a uniform speed.
The arrangement of a superstructure which is articulated on the free ends of
the
fixed pipes allows the vehicle to be easily provided with a driver's cab and a
crane jib on
which for example a harvester head or a drag can be mounted. The articulated
arrangement of the superstructure, as in the articulated axle structure,
allows horizontal
alignment of the driver's cab and mainly the crane jib in rough terrain; this
ensures much
simpler operation of the working machinery.
The use of square profiles for the telescoping pipes is advantageous since in
this
way a simple and stable structure of the undercarriage and a flat surface are
achieved.
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Thus no additional structural element is necessary for the arrangement for
example of the
drive assembly or of the crane.
The subject matter of the invention is shown by way of example in the
drawings.
Figure 1 shows an oblique view of the vehicle,
Figure 2 shows an overhead view of the vehicle,
Figure 3 shows a side view of the vehicle,
Figure 4 shows the vehicle equipped with a harvester head in flat terrain,
Figure 5 shows the vehicle equipped with a handling platform,
Figure 6 shows the vehicle equipped with a drag and extended telescoping
pipes,
Figures 7 to 10 show the vehicle when an obstacle is being crossed,
Figures 11 and 12 show rotary motion of the vehicle with support by the crane
jib
and
Figure 13 shows the vehicle with wheels when traveling on flat roadway.
Figures 1 to 3 show that the frame 2 of the vehicle consists essentially of
two
telescoping pipes which are each composed of a fixed pipe 5 and a movable pipe
3.
Square profiles are used for the pipe elements. The movable pipes 3 are moved
hydraulically or mechanically in the two fixed pipes 5, at the same time or in
alternation,
linearly forward or backward.
On the free end of the movable pipes 3 there is one support element 4 each
which
is mounted in the plane of the lengthwise axis of the telescoping pipe to
pivot around a
bearing point 10. The support elements 4 can be raised or lowered by means of
hydraulic
cylinders 12 and support plates 11 which engage the subsoil are mounted on the
support
elements 4. Figure 13 shows that in place of the support plates 11 on at least
one support
element 4 a wheel or a track can be mounted in order to enable progressive
motion with
higher speed on roughly flat, road-like subsoil.
When moving with movable pipes 3 which are being extended and retracted in
alternation the support element 4 is blocked during extension and the vehicle
is moved
parallel. During retraction which takes place at the same time somewhat more
rapidly
during extension of the other movable pipe 3, the support element 4 is slack
and can thus
be pulled over obstacles or relief or can also be raised by means of the
hydraulic cylinder
12. After the movable pipe 3 is retracted, the support element 4 is set down
for extension,
fixed with the support plate 11 and again extended with simultaneous
retraction of the
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other movable pipe 3. With this construction not only is a uniform speed
ensured, but a
uniform height of the frame over the subsoil is also ensured by the parallel
displacement
of the movable pipe 3.
On the vehicle frame 2 the axle structure - with two wheels or tracked running
gear - is arranged fixed or articulated in the area of the free end of the
fixed pipes 5. The
axle structure can have a driven or freely running steered axle 1. By means of
connectable
control electronics the angular speed of the axle 1 and the walking speed of
the walking
elements, i.e. the movable pipes 3 and the support elements 4, can be matched
to one
another.
A superstructure 6 is articulated to the two fixed pipes 5 by way of the axle
structure. The configuration of the superstructure 6 leaves open all possible
versions so
that it can be equipped with a crane jib 7 and/or a driver's cab 8. On the
crane jib 7, as
shown for example in Figures 4 to 6, a drag or a harvester head can be
mounted. On the
end of the fixed pipes 5 which is opposite the free end is the drive assembly
9 which
however can also be integrated into the cab structure. Auxiliary devices, such
as a
handling platform as shown in Figure 5, can also be mounted on the vehicle
frame 2.
The superstructure 6 is connected above the axle structure to the vehicle
frame 2
fixed or by means of a rim bearing. The articulated support of the axle
structure and/or of
the superstructure 6 allows horizontal positioning of the vehicle or of the
driver's cab 8 on
a precipitous incline.
Figures 7 to 10 show how with the vehicle as claimed in the invention an
obstacle
in the form of a terrace is crossed. First, the support elements 4 are
positioned or aligned
in the direction to the vehicle front and the extended crane jib 7 is
supported on the terrace
(Figure 7). Then, by means of the crane jib 7 the vehicle is raised over the
terrace, for
support the movable pipes 3 being extended (Figure 8). Afterwards the
superstructure 6
with the crane jib 7 is turned by 180o, the crane jib 7 is set down behind the
terrace and
the vehicle is raised to the rear, by which the support elements 4 lift off
the subsoil
(Figure 9). After retracting the movable pipes 3, the support elements 4 are
positioned on
the terrace with the support plates 11 (Figure 10) and the superstructure is
again turned
back by 180o.
Figures 11 and 12 describe the process of turning the vehicle by 90o with the
axle
1 fixed. With the superstructure 6 aligned roughly to the rear of the vehicle
the crane jib 7
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is positioned roughly in the area of the support elements 4. By extending the
crane jib 7
the back of the vehicle is raised and by turning the superstructure 6 relative
to the vehicle
frame 2 the vehicle is turned by the desired angle (Figure 11). Then the
support elements
4 (Figure 12) are simply put down and the vehicle is ready to travel again in
the new
direction. This turning can be undertaken by any optional angle.
5

Representative Drawing